Resuscitator



June 10, 1941. SWAN 2,244,973

RESUS CITA'IOR Filed Feb. 15, 1940 3 1 'lil ywam A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,244,973 ansuscrre'ro a Harry L. Swan, Lake Village, Ark.

Application February 15, 1940, Serial No. 319,141

4 Claims.

This invention relates to resuscitators and is more especially an improvement upon the structure disclosed in my copending application, filed August 15, 1938, Serial No. 225,059; new Patent 2,204,738, dated June 18, 1940.

An object of the invention is to increase the efliciency of the device by providing a means for more fully insuring a sealing contact between the device and the surface of the body under treatment whereby the resuscitator is caused to adhere more effectively to the body while it is being manipulated, it being unnecessary to use an adhesive or other means for maintaining the partial vacuum which is created within the device during its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-4, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the connected rings 7 of the device.

Referring to the figures by'character's of reference, l designates a flexible ring-like base preferably of rubber which can be reenforced with fabric if desired and has a sleeve 2 extending therefrom and opening through the base. An infiatable rubber tube 3 is extended around and joined to the sleeve as shown at 4, there being provided, in the structure shown, a flange integral with this tube which is fitted snugly to and cemented or otherwise fastened on the sleeve. This tube bears upon the marginal portion of the base i asshown and serves to support a thrust ring 6 formed of a rigid material which, in turn, is connected by upwardly and inwardly converging arms 1, to an inner ring 8 which is fitted loosely about but guided by sleeve 2.

Those portions of the thrust ring 6 which are located between arms I are preferably offset up wardly slightly as indicated at 9.

The upper end of sleeve 2 has an inturned flange ill on which is supported a disk ll of rigid material such as steel, there being a clamping ring 12 bearing against the flange and held thereto and to the disk by bolts l3 whereby a tight connection is provided between the sleeve and the disk. The marginal portion of the disk extends beyond the guide ring 8 and has bolted to it a collapsible suction cup M the top of which is formed by disks l5 which are clamped upon opposed faces of the cup and held thereto by bolts 86 or the like so as to form a tight connection. The outer top disk l5 has a handle l1 fixedly connected thereto and extending diametrically thereac'ross.

A check valve l8 adapted to open outwardly, is carried by the top disk I5 and another check valve I 9 is carried by disk II, this latter 'valve being adapted to open upwardly into the cup M but to prevent flow of air in the opposite direction into the chamber 29 defined by sleeve 2.

Another check valve 2| is carried by disk H and is also adapted to open upwardly into the cup it but to prevent flow of air in the opposite direction. A tube, preferably of rubber, is extended from this valve as indicated at 22 and within chamber 2!) to a vent 23 which extends through the wall of the sleeve and into the annular space normally provided between tube 3, base I and sleeve 5. This space is shown at 24'.

Suitable buckles are connected to the pressure ring 6 at diametrically opposed points and these buckles, the bases of which have been indicated at 25, are located preferably adjacent to the arms 1. Each buckle has a pivoted clamping portion 25" cooperating with its base 25 todetachably and adjust ably engage the ends of a body strap 26 of such length as to extend it readily under the body of the patient to which the resuscitator is applied."

Under normal conditions the tube 3 is'collapsed so that the entire structure thus can be stored in a small space and conveniently carried. When it is desired to use the resuscitator the tube 3 is inflated by forcingair thereinto through a valved stem 2! such as commonly used in connection with automobile tires. After the tube 3 has been inflated the stem 21 is closed, the resuscitat'or placed on the body of the patient at the point where the body is to be manipulated, and the strap 26 placed under the body and drawn tightly after which the strap is secured by the buckles 25. When the strap is thus tightened the pressure ring 6 to which the strap is attached, exerts a downward pressure on the tube 3 forcing the bottom surface of this tube tightly against the marginal portion of base I and also against the adjacent portion of the body of the patient so that a tight connection thus is provided between the chamber 20 and the surface'of the body. While the attachment is thus held to the body the operator presses downwardly on handle I! so as to collapse the suction cup [4 and move the disks l5 toward the disk H. Air within the suction cup will thus be allowed to escape past the valve I8. Handle I! is then pulled upwardly and as the disks l5 are pulled away from disk H a suction is set up which results in withdrawal of air from chamber 20 and also withdrawal ofair through tube 22 and vent 23 from the annular space 24; Consequently the inflated and compressed tube 3 will be permitted to expand inwardly into the space 24 so as to exert a greater pressure through the base I upon the body so as to more efficiently seal the connection with the body, By reason of the partial vacuum thus set up in the apparatus the resuscitator is caused to adhere firmly to the body of the patient. "The person operating the device then again thrusts downwardly with handle I1 so that any air remaining in the cup M will escape therefrom when the cup is collapsed. As the greater portion of air has now been removed from within the resuscitator, the cup' 14 will remain collapsed and while in this position the handle can be used for pulling upwardly and thrusting downwardly for the purpose of effecting the desired manipulation of the body of the patient. During each upward pull on the handle I! the suction cup will tend to suck into the cup any air which may still be contained within chamber 20 or the annular space 24 but during each downward stroke this additional amount of air in the cup will be expelled.

Obviously by providing a device such as herein described all'danger of failure of the resuscitator to operate under emergency conditions is removed and as the structure can be quickly applied and thereafter easily manipulated, it has been found to be an effective accessory for use by doctors, on

boats, in vehicles, and wherever any emergency spect to the base I so that when air is withdrawn from the annular space 24, the tube 3 will expand into said space and operate as a supplemental means i'or effecting a sealing contact between the resuscitator and the surface of the body. Because of the softness of the body and the irregularities in its contour, it is essential that the means employed for effecting a seal be such as to adapt the apparatus quickly to the contours and other characteristics of the engaged body surface.

To remove the resuscitator from the body it is merely necessary to detach the strap from one of the buckles, insert the hand between the body and the tube 3 to break the suction and also ex tend the fingers between the body and the base that in lieu thereof any other suitable sealing ring might be employed. For example instead of using an inflatable tube or sealing ring for receiving pressure from ring 6, a sealing ring of sponge rubber or a ring made of any other suitable freely yielding material could be used.

What is claimed is:

1. A resuscitator including a base, a sleeve thereon defining a suction chamber opening through the base, a collapsible suction cup connected to the sleeve, means carried by the cup for permitting escape of air when the cup is collapsed but for preventing the admission of air to the cup, a valve between the suction chamber and the suction cup for permitting flow of air from said chamber into the cup but preventing flow of air in the opposite direction, a compressible sealing ring surrounding and connected to the sleeve and bearing on the base, a pressure ring loosely mounted on and guided by the sleeve, and means adjustably connected to the pressure ring for holding the resuscitator to the body of a patient and placing the sealing ring under compression.

2. A resuscitator including a base, 'a sleeve thereon defining a suction chamber opening through the base, a collapsible suction cup connected to the sleeve, means carried by the cup for permitting escape of air when the cup is collapsed but for preventing the admission of air to the cup, a valve between the suction chamber and the suction cup for permitting flow of air from said chamber into the cup but preventing flow of air in the opposite direction, a compressible sealing ring surrounding and connected to the sleeve and bearing on the base, a pressure ring loosely mounted on and guided by the sleeve,

means adjustably connected to the pressure ring for holding the resuscitator to the body of the patient and placing the sealing ring under compression, there being an annular space between the sealing ring, base and sleeve, and valved means within the suction chamber for withdrawing air from said annular space and into the suction cup when said cup is expanded, thereby to effect expansion of the sealing ring into said space.

3. A resuscitator including a flexible base for contact with the body of a patient, a sleeve extending therefrom and opening therethrough, said sleeve defining a suction chamber when the resuscitator is in use, a collapsible suction cup connected to the sleeve, a valved connection between the interior of the suction cup and the suction chamber for permitting escape of air from the suction chamber into the cup but preventing the flow of air in the opposite direction, a valve carried by the suction cup for permitting escape of air therefrom but preventing return flow of the air, a handle on the suction cup for use in collapsing and expanding the cup and for manipulating the resuscitator, a sealing ring surrounding and connected to the sleeve and bearing upon the marginal portion of the base. said ring being compressible and flexible, a pressure ring supported on the sealing ring, means carried by the pressure ring and cooperating with the sleeve for holding the pressure ring centered about the sleeve and in position on the sealing ring," and a member connected to opposed portions of the pressure ring for holding the sealing ring and base to the body of a patient.

4. A resuscitator including a flexible base for contact with the body of a patient, a sleeve extending therefrom and opening therethrough,

said sleeve defining a suction chamber when the resuscitator is in use, a collapsible suction cup connected to the sleeve, a valved connection between the interior of the suction cup and the suction chamber for permitting escape of air from the suction chamber into the cup but preventing the fiow of air in the opposite direction, a valve carried by the suction cup for permitting escape of air therefrom but preventing return flow of the air, a handle on the suction cup for use in collapsing and expanding the cup and for manipulating the resuscitator, a sealing ring surrounding and connected to the sleeve and bearing upon the marginal portion of the base, said ring being compressible and flexible, a pressure ring supported on the sealing ring, means carried by the pressure ring and cooperating with the sleeve for holding the pressure ring centered about the sleeve and in position on the sealing ring, a member connected to opposed portions of the pressure ring for holding the sealing ring and base to the body of a patient, there being an annular space above the base and between the sealing ring and the sleeve, a valved tubular connection between said space and the interior of the suction cup, said connection constituting means for withdrawing air from the annular space and drawing the sealing ring thereinto when the cup is expanded and for maintaining a vacuum in said annular space when the cup is collapsed.

HARRY L. SWAN. 

